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All the news for Tuesday 3 September 2019

AHF Men's Central Asia Cup 2019 - Day 1
Taldykorgan (KAZ)

Results

2 Sep 2019     KAZ v TJK (RR)     9 - 0

Pool Standings

FIH Match Centre

Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey: Affan Yousuf’s hat-trick lifts ailing IOC to 4-3 win

Defending champion IOC remains unbeaten in the 2019 Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament.

Samarnath Soory


Affan Yousuf. Photo Credit: Vivek Bendre

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) rode on Affan Yousuf’s hat-trick as it beat Indian Air Force (IAF) 4-3 in a topsy-turvy Pool A match in the 2019 Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament on Monday. B. M. Sheshe Gowda scored the second hat-trick of the day as Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) held Central Secretariat to a 3-3 draw at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Chennai.

IOC, which is missing its goalkeeper J. Chetan and forward Vikramjit Singh due to illness, came back thrice from a goal down to make it two wins in two matches.

IAF was quickly off the blocks, winning a penalty corner in the fourth minute which was converted by dragflicker Damanjit Singh. IOC hit back as Gurjinder Singh found the net from a corner in the 11th minute.

Three more goals followed in the second quarter as IAF pressurised IOC with wing crosses. Harwant Singh's 20th-minute strike put IAF back in the lead, but Affan Yousuf found the equaliser six minutes later with a close-range finish. In the 29th minute, Major Singh’s tomahawk from the edge circle put IAF in a strong position as it went into half-time with a 3-2 lead.

IOC equalised for third time soon after the break as Yousuf flicked in his second goal from a penalty corner variation. The Indian international completed his hat-trick to put his side in the lead for the first time when he pounced on a weak corner clearance to finish at the near post in the 44th minute. The holiday crowd at the MRK stadium collectively went up in anticipation of a fourth from Yousuf, but the Indian international slipped before he could pull the trigger from close-range.

In the second match, Sheshe Gowda’s (27’) penalty stroke put RSPB upfront but a brace from Govind Singh Rawat (30’,44’) and a field goal from Jayesh Jadhav (47’) put Central Secretariat 3-1 up in the third quarter. But Sheshe Gowda (52’,56’) smashed home two penalty corners in the final minutes to secure a 3-3 draw for RSPB.
Results

Pool A: IOC 4 (Gurijinder Singh 11’, Affan Yousuf 26’ 31’44’) bt IAF 3 (Damanjit Singh 4’, Harwant Singh 20’, Major Singh 29’)

Pool B: Central Secretariat 3 (Govind Singh Rawat 30’ 44’,Jayesh Jadhav 47’) drew with RSPB 3 (B.M. Sheshe Gowda 27’ 52’ 56’)

The Hindu

Olympic qualification: What you need to know



Great Britain’s men’s and women’s teams have the chance to reach the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in two-legged qualifier matches, with both games to be played on home turf.

The Games will be in London, at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre over the weekend of 1-3 November 2019.  For the latest news on how to secure your tickets please sign up here.

The GB sides will only know which team they will play after the conclusion of the other continental competitions with the draw set to be made on Monday 9 September, live on FIH Facebook at 12pm BST.

As it stands, Great Britain’s men will be drawn against one of France, Ireland, Malaysia or Korea. The women will play Russia, Italy or Chile.

Both the men's and women's teams need to qualify separately through the two-legged matches; if one gender qualifies it does not mean the other progresses alongside them. Though Great Britain’s women are the reigning Olympic champions, they do not qualify automatically for the Tokyo Games.

The Olympic Qualifier matches will provide the final opportunity for teams to qualify for Tokyo.

England Hockey Board Media release

Kookas Rockhampton royalty – Part 1

Nic Kerber



Days out from Rockhampton taking centre stage for the Oceania Cup, we conducted two special Q&A’s with a couple of the region’s and this country’s best ever. First up, a man who is widely regarded as the greatest men’s hockey player of all time.

Jamie Dwyer was born and bred in the regional Central Queensland city. Having grown up playing and being surrounded by hockey, at 17 he moved south to Brisbane for the sport before being invited to the Australian Institute of Sport two years later in 1999. He has lived on and off in Perth since, having sculpted a career most players could only dream of.

Ahead of the biggest games of 2019 for the Hockeyroos and the Kookaburras, a very busy Jamie Dwyer took some time to fill us in on what he has been up to and his excitement of all eyes turning to Rockhampton.

Hi Jamie. Thanks for taking the time to chat. How is life going post Kookaburras?

JD: Life is pretty busy at the moment. I’ve got a young family and right now we think it’s best to be in Perth. Everyone is happy and the family’s needs are what is most important, so life is going well. I’ve got three kids aged 10, 8 and 4 which keeps my wife and I busy. They grow up fast and take in every moment.

After I retired it was a bit of an adjustment after playing 16 years for the Australian team. You change a lot in your lifestyle and it takes a while to adjust. The first year wasn’t easy and I guess everyone deals with it differently. I was very lucky, I had a business and a family, and now being retired for three years you find your rhythm, find what you want to do, and I’m very happy at the moment.

Are the kids into hockey?

The oldest two love it and my daughter isn’t into it just yet but I don’t think she’s too far off. In Australia because of the weather and the opportunity, kids can play a range of sports so I encourage them to give everything a crack. There’s no pressure on them to play hockey but the oldest loves it and the middle one is into everything at the moment so we’ll see what happens.

It would be remiss not to ask about your hockey stick business JDH (Jamie Dwyer Hockey). How’s it all going and what convinced you to start it up?

Business wise I’ve got a few things on the go. My main role is working for JDH, which is sold around the world. It’s a full time job which is going well, and I also part own a couple of restaurants in Perth with some other athletes – Eamon Sullivan and Steve Hooker. The restaurants are doing really well.

You started JDH before you finished playing. What made you want to start up a hockey stick company?

I started it in 2014. It started as a bit of fun and just grew, I guess because of my name and the access I had to get into retail shops around the world. Every year it keeps growing and I guess I knew how to make a good hockey stick and I was passionate about it. The sticks are made in Pakistan and I went over there a few times, at least once a year, to make sure the quality of the product keeps improving. Once I knew the quality was really good, the sticks were sold all around the world so I had to learn quickly how to run a business and how to make a profit. With the restaurants, Eamon runs restaurants and he gave me some feedback on how to run a business and although the hockey world is a little bit different to restaurants, there are some similar concepts. One of the advantages JDH has over other hockey stick brands is that we’re sold across the world in places like Japan, the USA, South America and all of Europe, so it’s a worldwide brand that is getting bigger every year. I’m really proud of it and it’s great because I can stay involved in hockey.

How did you find taking to running a business compared to turning up to training early every morning?

I like it because I am out of my comfort zone. I’ve learnt a lot and I don’t think it matters what age you are or what part of your life you’re in, when you’re learning and improving it’s always satisfying because you’re getting the most out of your life. The past 18 months especially have been a big learning curve for me business wise and I’m very happy I’ve taken this path in my job, it’s great fun and I really enjoy it.

In your playing days were you fussy and particular about what hockey stick you used?

Everyone is different. You can hand a stick to an international player and they’ll use it. Some are very fussy and particular. I was to the extreme on the fussy side. I had to have the perfect stick otherwise I didn’t use it. I’d have one stick that I’d really like and then I’d try to get the same stick made. So I guess that’s why when I’m at the factory and getting them to make a stick, whether it’s a millimetre here or there can make a difference, change the balance point among other things. When I was playing I wanted the perfect stick and now that has translated into trying to build the perfect stick.

Do you get itchy watching the Kookaburras now?

I get really itchy. I’d still love to be out there playing for the Kookaburras. I still play club hockey in Perth in the first division, so I get to play with and against some of the current Australian players. I was just at the European Championships in Antwerp, and the way they ran that tournament, it would make anyone want to play hockey because it was unbelievable. So I do get itchy feet. I still love going out there and competing, and one thing you do miss when you retire is putting on that green and gold shirt and playing in big tournaments and challenging yourself against the best opposition in the world. The competitive side of it is what I thrived on when I was playing but I definitely don’t miss the trainings or getting up at 5am in the morning and going to all of the meetings.

Do you still feel like you would give some of the current crop a good run for their money in the local competition?

I think I could but the next morning I wouldn’t be able to walk (laughs). But on the day, because my competitive spirit just kicks into gear, I can’t help but probably exert myself too much, but I still really enjoy playing.

This year’s Oceania Cup is in your home town of Rockhampton. When was the last time you were back there?

I was there in April with my wife and kids to catch up with my family. I try and get back at least once a year.

Rockhampton has been an amazing breeding ground for some outstanding Australian hockey players – you and Mark Knowles to name but a few. Is there something in the water there?

I’m not sure. There a lot of sports stars, and not just hockey players, to come out of Rockhampton. A lot of rugby league players, Rod Laver came from Rockhampton, Anna Meares. I remember in 2004 when we came back from Athens and Knowlesy (Mark Knowles) and I had a gold medal, and Anna Meares had a medal, the kids we showed the medals to just thought it was a local running race and that they gave them out to everyone. But seriously, I don’t know. Hockey has always been strong in Rockhampton and there were a few Australian players when I was growing up who were from that town who I looked up to. Now I guess kids look up to Mark and myself and Matt Ghodes who has been to a couple of Olympics as well.

How did you first get into hockey?

My mum started playing hockey when she was at school. Dad was playing for another club and I started playing. All my aunties and uncles played. Every Saturday I’d rock up and play juniors all day and then go and watch mum and dad and friends play in the afternoon…it was a perfect day out.

What do you think it means to the region to be hosting the Oceania Cup and such high stake matches?

I think it’s awesome for hockey in Rockhampton and the regions around it like Gladstone and Mackay. There are two great turf pitches in Rockhampton now, a fantastic facility, and to be able to watch high quality international hockey is great. Rockhampton doesn’t get to see too many international games, but to have these games up there I think the city is really going to thrive off it. I know they have put in a lot of hard work and hopefully by having some games up there it will show the youngsters from that region that it’s definitely possible to play for Australia.

From a players’ point of view, when I was playing we used to love going to the country towns to play because you always get a good feeling and the crowd really gets behind you.



As part of the tournament, there is a legends game and a function to celebrate the 15 year anniversary of the gold medal winning Kookaburras team from the Athens Olympics in 2004. There are going to be 12 players from that team in Rockhampton, how much are you looking forward to reminiscing with your old team mates?

We’ve got a Viber and Whatsapp group of the guys in that 2004 Olympic team so we all like to keep in touch quite regularly. But to see each other all together again, play on Thursday night and have a function on the Friday, I’m sure we’re going to have a good couple of days together…we always do. We’re all good mates and it’ll be good to be able to chat about how good we were (laughs).

That’s what reunions are all about. Looking back, what do you think was the key to that team and achieving what you did?

Good question. I think we worked bloody hard together. Everyone works hard but we worked really hard and worked harder than our opposition. We had a great coach and support staff who guided us in the right direction. There were some guys in the team who were really confident, some guys who weren’t so confident and we found that balance to be able to work with each other and get the best out of each other. At the end of the day we knew we could look each other in the eye and knew that everyone would give 100 per cent to each other and the team. I guess when you have that trust in your team mates and trust in the coach and the game plan, you can go out and give it your best shot. Whether you win or lose, we could look back and say that we gave it everything we had, and that’s the most important thing. There are probably a number of things you need to combine to get the outcome, but that competitive spirit, ability to be able to work with each other and strive for the one goal was something special.

You’ve won everything there is to win in international hockey. How much does the gold in Athens rate?

It’s definitely at the top. I guess when you ask what I’ve been through from a hockey point of view and the commitment, all of us have had a different journey going into those Games. Then to win and the fact it’s the only gold medal we have won for the Australian men’s hockey team is super special. And to score the winning goal, I couldn’t have dreamt that when I was 12 years of age. From there, I guess what I am proud of from a personal point of view is that I won an Olympic gold medal 15 years ago and since then I’ve won six Champions Trophies, Commonwealth Games, two World Cups and been voted best player in the world five times, and kept improving my game which is something I am proud of. But that gold medal in 2004 was certainly the biggest highlight in my career.

Do you pinch yourself sometimes with everything you’ve achieved?

Being Australian it’s hard to get a big head because people want to knock you down straight away, and I’ve always remembered where I’ve come from and the person I am. When I was playing I never looked at my achievements, I always wanted to keep improving and since I retired I look back on my career and can give myself a pat on the back. But I’m still the same person I was growing up in Rockhampton, and I’ve been very lucky to have made a lot of good friends and experienced a lot of good things and been in a lot of great teams with some awesome hockey players, so I feel very lucky.

It will undoubtedly be great having you guys from the 2004 Athens Olympic winning team in attendance at the qualifiers?

It’s going to be great. There are people from Rockhampton who came to the Olympics to watch us in 2004 and they’re going to come and watch the same team they supported 15 years ago. It’s great for the youngsters who may have watched us growing up but didn’t get to see us play live much. It has been 15 years since we won the Olympics so it is great to be able to get together and celebrate what we achieved.

You and Mark Knowles combined for nearly 700 appearances for the Kookaburras. What do you put your longevity down to?

At the start of your career you take your body for granted. You can just turn up to training, eat whatever you like and just go out there and do it. I guess the older you get the more you learn about your body and what you need to do to compete every day. That’s one thing I learnt from 2004 when I was less diligent than in 2016. I would think about everything I put in my body, every time I stretched, it was all important. So I guess it’s just about looking after your body, knowing what you can and can’t do, and my body is completely different to Knowlesy’s. For example, I like doing yoga, Knowlesy didn’t do yoga, I liked to do a lot of leg weights and Knowlesy was a bit different, so you’ve just got to learn how your body reacts to certain things and get the most out of it.

Eddie Ockenden is closing in on your record of 365 Kookaburras appearances. You would have played a lot of matches with Eddie – I’m sure you wouldn’t mind him being the one to eclipse your record?

I don’t mind at all. Eddie and I are really good friends. He plays for the same club team as me in Perth and I’ve roomed with him at Olympic Games and World Cups, and I knew it was only a matter of time before he would become the most capped Australian player which is great for him. For me, I remember having this conversation a long time ago. I don’t really care about the amount of caps or goals, it was more about playing in the big tournaments, so that was my goal from a very young age. I was very lucky I played so many games but I knew it would get eclipsed at some point and my goals record would as well.

How do you see the current Kookaburras squad? Do you see aspects of the great sides you were part of in this group?

I do. I’ve been very impressed especially over the last year, especially how they’ve been playing as a group. Big credit to (Head Coach) Colin Batch and the coaching staff. He has created a great culture in that group. He has come in and changed a few things and I’m just really happy to see them back as the world number one team but more so to see the way they are playing. The way they played when they beat Belgium in Belgium this year, they beat Holland in Holland, and then they won the Final. But in saying that, they need to realise that the Europeans don’t get serious until probably four months before the Olympics so they ae going to have to be better than what they were this year, which I’m sure they know. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s ahead in the next 12 months. There are a lot more competitors now, so it’s not going to be easy but I think they’re definitely on the right track and I’m really loving what I’ve been seeing of the Kookaburras.

Hockey Australia media release

SPAR South Africa training camp squad announced



A 19-player squad has been selected for the SPAR South Africa Indoor squad for a selection camp at Danville Park Girls High School from the 26-28 September. From this selection camp the team will then be selected to take on Switzerland in November in 6 test matches split between Durban and Cape Town.

SPAR South Africa shocked the world number 7 Switzerland in January by winning the series 3-1 so the Europeans will be fired up to try and get revenge against a team who has not lost a series since the 2017 African Indoor Cup of Nations.

The squad has been selected on the back of the SPAR Indoor Series earlier this year and includes players that impressed for both SPAR South Africa and the Emerging South Africa sides that took on Zimbabwe and Botswana. Eloise Walter is also back in the squad having missed the SPAR Indoor Series through injury.

In terms of emerging South Africa players from the SPAR Indoor Series, Ammaarah Hendricks, Kayla de Waal, Nepo Serage and Nompilo Thenjwayo are the players who will fight to earn their first international caps while Jess Lardant and Andrea Leader will be looking to earn themselves further caps for the SPAR South Africa Indoor side.

Greg White, convenor of selectors, shared his thoughts on the team:

“Our focus is quickly shifting to the African Qualifiers for the next FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup, but we are also constantly looking to build for the future by exposing new players to International Indoor Hockey and rewarding form shown for the Emerging South Africa side. We are delighted with the mix of players selected and look forward to seeing how they handle the pressure of a selection camp before selecting our final squad to take on Switzerland. We know they will be looking for revenge, so it promises to be a fantastic series!”

SPAR South Africa Selection Camp

SA Hockey Association media release

Mind your language: Hockey team polishes English skills

With most India hockey players coming from rural areas, all of them even following Hindi is not a given, leave alone English. Having even an essential grasp of English can work wonders, be it communicating with the coach or on the field.

Sandip Sikdar


File image of Indian hockey team(Getty Images)

Communication is the name of the game for elite teams to boost performance. Be it bonding on the training ground or relaying tactics in the heat of competition, it is vital to be on the same page. Or speak the same language.

The Indian men’s hockey team is taking big strides on this front along with polishing their reverse and drag-flicks. With their coach and support staff foreigners, back to the drawing board for the national team is also English lessons, to top up on skill and tactics.

With most India hockey players coming from rural areas, all of them even following Hindi is not a given, leave alone English. Having even an essential grasp of English can work wonders, be it communicating with the coach or on the field.

Be it seeking a video referral, or approaching the umpires—most speak English—to point out a wrong decision without the officials assuming the player is merely being too aggressive. Or even give it back in the heat of the battle if any rival player tries to intimidate. No, sledging is not entirely alien to the hockey field.

The Indian squad is finding in-house methods to help the players improve their English. For a start, interacting with the coach and support staff, whose different accents itself can be a challenge.

“We’re very aware of the language barrier, especially with our rough Australian accent, sometimes it is a bit difficult to understand,” concedes India’s chief coach, Graham Reid.

FAMILY AFFAIR

To bridge the gap, Heide, wife of analytical coach Chris Ciriello, and Reid’s spouse Julia began giving English lessons to the players during the national camp in August.

“At the start, my wife took two weeks with the full team, but that was hard because of the different levels of English and (each of them) wanting to learn different things, grammar to speaking to presentation skills. After Graham’s wife arrived, it (lessons) has been split,” says Ciriello, who won the 2014 World Cup with Australia.

“Graham’s wife helped the beginners and Heide the more advanced. I also did a presentation on English… It is about pushing the guys at all levels. It is really important the guys keep developing, not only on the field but off it too.”

Julia and Heide, who is a teacher in Australia and also has an environmental sciences degree, are enjoying this honorary work. It also will help their husbands, who prefer talking directly with the players than using an interpreter.

“When I started, I made sure we are constantly translating. We are testing them to make sure they understand. Sometimes it’s like the old scooter that doesn’t want to start. You have to keep trying to start it and then it does,” says Reid, who took over as chief coach in April.

“There are some who pick up faster. That is also important to know so that you can teach people in different ways, sometimes by actually showing on a video, or on the board.”

The team management makes sure there is always someone to translate during training, even if players are in sub-groups. “Our video analyst (Aadithya Chakravarty) is a very good English speaker. We have SAI coaches too, but senior players are very good in English, like (PR) Sreejesh, skipper Manpreet (Singh), Bobby (Rupinder Pal Singh),” added the 55-year-old.

The six weeks of English lessons were imbibed before leaving for the Olympic test event in Tokyo, which India won recently.

Manpreet Singh provides perspective. “There are many players who don’t know English and have a communication problem, be it talking to the media, or when you have to refer to the third umpire. This also changes lifestyles, you gain more knowledge, can talk to foreign players, and also know how or what to talk. Many players are learning.”

Vice-captain and defender Birendra Lakra wishes there had been such classes in his early years. “During tournaments, discussing the game with foreign players is a problem. If we can improve our English, we can do that. Also, during matches, if umpires award a foul when you know there is none, if you can’t speak (English) then you cannot explain and the decision will incorrectly go against you,” says Lakra, who was part of the 2014 Asian Games champion side.

Forward Akashdeep Singh adds: “The English of a lot of players, including mine, is not that good. On top of that their (coaches’) accent is very fast, which I can’t understand; the Indian staff translates for us. Thus I’ve learnt a lot from these classes.”

The learning hasn’t been entirely one way.

The team’s South African scientific advisor, Robin Arkell, who has been in India for about two-and-a-half years, now speaks Hindi in bits and pieces.

“(I have picked up) a few words. I am trying to get a little better, but yeah, I use a lot of small phrases to get the guys going. My favourites are probably chalo and jaldi aao, but I need to work on pronunciation.”

Ciriello, who came on board last year, sees himself as half-Indian as his mother was born in this country and he has grown up eating curry, rice and dal. The 33-year-old former Australia drag-flicker knows Hindi but is reluctant to speak.

“Speaking is not so much because a lot of guys want to speak to me in English, so I can improve their language. But I understand a lot (of Hindi)… I understand what they’re talking, especially when it is related to hockey. I follow about 85 percent. Just don’t tell the other reporters because I know what they are speaking,” laughs Ciriello.

Hindustan Times

Midlands teams prepare for nationals

By Adyn Ogle


Tambra Trist fights for possession. Photo / George Novak

Midlands hockey teams have had important hit outs in Tauranga as the national championships loom.

The men's and women's teams will return to the Tauranga Hockey Centre in less than two weeks for their respective Ford NHL Tournament, but on Sunday played Tauranga-Bay of Plenty teams. The latter will play in the association national championships the same week in Tauranga.

The Midlands men's team were 8-0 winners on Sunday but coach Mark Borgers was not concerned with the result.

"The purpose was not just winning, it is also connecting with the regions and it was important to play there," Borgers says.

"We just need to tick boxes before the tournament. We pulled a man as if we were down for 10 minutes, so we needed to deal with that. You do some things right you do some wrong and then you discuss that.

"You like to see things from training and they carried that out really well."


Brad Pitman is ready during the match between Tauranga and Midlands. Photo / George Novak

Borgers says his side plays an entertaining style but has strong beliefs on mastering the simple parts of the game.

"If you don't master the basics it becomes very difficult. There is an issue in New Zealand with that, a lot of players do not master the basics well enough. If the pressure and the pace of the game increases you start to make mistakes on your trapping and passing.

"As a team we really connect well together and we also want to be efficient. If we can play that game and every player can show his qualities, we have been successful.

"For me it is about delivering a better team after the tournament than there was before. Success is not only winning the tournament. We don't have any Black Sticks playing for us, to say winning is the only thing is naive. We should be realistic but still have challenging goals. Being ranked in the top four is more realistic."


Jo Morris focuses on the game, which doubled as a pre-tournament hit out for both teams. Photo / George Novak

The Midlands women's team had an 8-1 victory and Nicky Smith stood in for regular coach Reiner Vellinga on Sunday.

"It was another step forward in preparation for the tournament," Smith says.

"With our Black Sticks away, it was beneficial for the players that were there. It was good to practise some of the structures around the gameplay and work together. The positive is it gives those players the opportunity to put their hand up and say 'I am going well too'.

"They need to gel, there are a few disruptions around player availability and they have not played too much together. They are playing fast attacking hockey and it is a high-pressure, high-energy game. They want to take the ball of the opposition high up the field to create opportunities."

The national tournaments begin in Tauranga on September 14.


Midlands hockey teams had important hit outs in Tauranga on Sunday. Photo / George Novak

The New Zealand Herald

An invaluable experience in Stellenbosch



It wasn’t purely the hockey on the pitch that people enjoyed at the African Hockey Road to Tokyo 2020 in Stellenbosch. For more than 40 coaches, officials and umpires, a series of four courses running alongside the main event, provided a fantastic chance to upskill and share information with counterparts from other nations.

The courses comprised: FIH Academy Educator Course, run by Mike Joyce, the executive Director of the Hockey Foundation; FIH Academy Level 2 Technical Officials course, led by FIH Academy Educators Ginny Ross and Ahmed Youssef; FIH Academy Level 2 Coaching course run by FIH Academy Educators Kurt Cerfontyne, Teddy Jhite (Head of Coaching at the Kenya Hockey Union), Jooks Lowe, Andi Bernstein. The Umpire Manager’s Seminar was led by Marelize de Klerk, FIH Academy Trainer and FIH Pro League Panel Umpire Manager.

The courses were attended by people from a range of nations, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Uganda and one candidate from the USA, who took a break from his holidays to join the Level 2 Coaches course.

Among the skills taught were general skills such as organisation and communication. The importance of building a team was a recurring theme for the candidates on the Umpire Manager’s course, while the Level 2 coaches learnt all about taking a player-centred approach to their work.

The feedback on the four courses praised the delivery of the courses and the way the information was passed on, through a combination of classroom-based and practical sessions.

Even for someone as experienced as international umpire and umpire manager Marelize de Klerk, the course was an eye-opener for the breadth of information presented by the course leaders and the enthusiastic approach of all the candidates.

De Klerk, who was the first female umpire to reach 200 international matches and umpired at three Olympic Games, said: “This course was well-presented and well-structured with specific outcomes. One learning outcome that I enjoyed was the emphasis upon the fact that the coach/umpire manager “Can Do” as a result of experiencing and exploring for themselves.”

The emphasis on self learning and self discovery highlighted by de Klerk was one of the points that drew most praise from the candidates when they gave feedback on the various courses. Throughout the course, candidates were given specific tasks that were within their level of competency but really challenged them to perform at their best.

For de Klerk, the courses are invaluable when it comes to developing hockey across the continent. “I am really excited that we can take this information back into our African hockey community and spread our knowledge about the game.

“The Umpire Manager seminar was an absolute eye-opener for me. Everyone was so keen to learn and share. It makes me think this is a field that we definitely need to explore and develop. Everyone was just a after as much information as they could gain.

“We cannot put a value on these courses and the difference they make to our African hockey family.”

And Ahmed Azmy, CEO of the African Hockey Federation added: “The courses that took place in Stellenbosch, South Africa alongside the “African Hockey Road To Tokyo 2020” tournament were very well organised. It attracted many candidates from around the continent and has proven to be very much appreciated by participants who seek knowledge to improve their officiating or coaching skills. The positive feedback came not only from the professional courses content and the capable educators but also for allowing practical sessions and engaging participants to interact with and learn from each other’s input during the courses.”

FIH site

Powered by diversity

By Jugjet Singh


Mirnawan Nawawi (No 13) with his multiracial teammates at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the last time Malaysia qualified for the pinnacle of the sport.

“OUR strength was in diversity as well as the different backgrounds we came from.”

This was what three-time Olympian and former Malaysian hockey captain Mirnawan Nawawi said about the previous national teams who were once regulars in the World Cup and the Olympic Games.

Mirnawan, who hopes the current team will qualify for next year’s Olympics, said: “We had players from every race and it made our team stronger as we had different thinking and approaches to a game.

“In the end, we beat the best teams in the world to qualify for the World Cup as well as the Olympics.

“The present team are trying their best to qualify for Tokyo, and I hope they will beat whoever they are paired against in the final Olympic qualifier.

It has been 19 years since we last played in the Olympics,” said Mirnawan.

His former teammates Nor Saiful Zaini, also a triple Olympian, and Madli Ikmar both voiced out the same in June when they questioned: “Where have the Sikhs, Indians, Chinese and Eurasians gone?”


Mirnawan Nawawi

Mirnawan added: “We had all races in my team. We fought as a family and roared like a tiger together against some of the best in the world.

“So naturally, I would love to see the same at present. I really hope the present team will qualify for Tokyo because if we don’t, it would be another painful four years of planning and plotting,” said Mirnawan.

Mirnawan, who last represented the country in the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup, played alongside Maninderjit Singh, the late Chua Boon Huat, K. Gobinathan, S. Shankar, K. Keevan Raj, Jiwa Mohan, S. Kuhan and K. Logan Raj during his heyday.

“When we prayed before a match everybody joined in, and when we were overseas, Calvin Fernandez, Stephen van Huizen and Lim Chiow Chuan (all Olympians) made sure they were at the nearest Church every Sunday.

“The Malay boys never missed their Friday prayers overseas. And the Hindu and Sikh players went to their temples.

“Different minds, different ideas, and different approaches were our strength as Olympians,” said Mirnawan.

New Straits Times

Negri Razak Cup's team's boycott 'over nothing'

By Jugjet Singh

NEGRI Sembilan’s Razak Cup team will play in Division Two this year following their decision to boycott last year’s edition.

A Division One semi-finalists in 2017, Negri pulled out because they were upset with last year’s ruling concerning the eligibility of players.

Ironically, the eligibility ruling Negri were fighting against has been changed again for this year’s edition on Sept 20-28 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

“Negri were playing in Division One for 11 straight years before last year’s edition. We have been demoted to Division Two this year,” said Negri team manager S. Chandran.

“The irony is that Negri fought against the 2018 ruling which stated that players must play according to the State code on their Identification Cards.

“We protested because we had eight players who were studying in Negri but were born in other states. And when the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) competitions committee did not entertain us, we had to pull out on principle.

“But this year, the competitions committee reverted to the old ruling where students can play for States where they are studying.

“Negri will be fielding mostly Malaysia Games players. Hopefully, we will make the Division Two final and earn promotion to the top-tier competition,” said Chandran.

Last year, Perak were champions in Division One while Pahang won the second-tier tournament. Kuala Lumpur won the women’s Razak Cup title.

New Straits Times

Maryland field hockey’s first shutout of the season fills the team with confidence

David Suggs


Kelee LePage passes the ball during Maryland field hockey’s 5-1 win over Richmond on Aug. 30, 2019. (Gabby Baniqued/The Diamondback)

When Bodil Keus left with an injury during No. 2 Maryland field hockey’s matchup against New Hampshire on Sunday, the stakes were low. The Terps held a commanding 5-0 lead with about five minutes left, and the Wildcats, despite upping their intensity in the second half, had recorded only four shots to that point.

However, with Keus out of the equation, New Hampshire pushed to finally break through. With less than a minute left in the game, Wildcats forward Bloem van den Brekel fired a shot toward the Maryland cage. With goalkeeper Skye Joegriner out of position, the ball looked destined to score and dash Maryland’s hopes for its first clean sheet of the season.

But freshman midfielder Belle Bressler rushed toward the goal line before deflecting the ball over the bar to confirm Maryland’s first shutout of the season.

In a game where Maryland’s attacking output raised eyebrows, it was the Terps’ defensive performance that fills them with the most confidence as they prepare for difficult games against No. 3 Duke and No. 13 Boston College next weekend.

“What I’m really psyched about is [that] we had two defensive saves,” coach Missy Meharg said.

After conceding a goal within the first six minutes of Friday’s game against Richmond, the Terps aimed to limit goal-scoring opportunities by denying attackers the ability to cut inside the shooting circle in their second game.

That plan was especially successful in the first half, with the Wildcats failing to record a shot until the third quarter.

The Terps were led by Keus, who withdrew after she was hit in the knee late in Sunday’s contest. She’s expected to be available for this weekend’s top-15 matchups. The junior prides herself on her composure and ability to read attackers’ movement in the final third of the pitch.

“My main goal is not to step in and wait for the attacker to make a decision on what they’re going to do,” Keus said. “So I’m just keeping calm and as soon as I get the ball, I’m just trying to find the outside and get it out of the way.”

However, defensive responsibility is not solely left to the back four, as the coaching staff expects all 10 outfield players to contribute defensively.

“It’s important that your forwards are your first line of your defense and they’re able to do it really well,” assistant coach Katie Bam said earlier in the season.

Midfielder Madison Maguire exemplified that commitment to defense. In addition to scoring a goal and assisting two, Maguire made a number of defensive contributions, none more important than a defensive save she made in the third quarter.

“Madison Maguire as a post player is just phenomenal,” Meharg said. “That’s a big time save.”

Meharg’s squad will be tested defensively by Boston College and Duke this weekend, which have combined for 12 goals through four games this season.

And while the Terps showed improvement in terms of denying opponents’ opportunities to shoot the ball in their second contest, they will be aiming to take their defensive training up another level to ensure the pair of former ACC foes don’t have their way in the shooting arc.

“We’re going to face some shots,” Meharg said. “We definitely gained ground from Friday in terms of letting the ball into the circle. In that regard, we’ll continue working on that because I’m confident that Boston College and Duke will get into our circle.”

The Diamondback

Iowa field hockey splits pair of games at ACC/Big Ten Challenge

The Hawkeyes took down Wake Forest to open the season, and took North Carolina to the final minutes.

Jahlynn Hancock


Iowa midfielder Sophie Sunderland tries to control the ball as a Michigan player crashes to the turf during the Semifinals in the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament at Lakeside Field in Evanston, IL on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. The no. 8 ranked Hawkeyes defeated the no. 7 ranked Wolverines 2-1. David Harmantas

Iowa field hockey traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan, over the weekend to open the 2019 season with the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Hawkeyes split a pair of closely contested matches against two top-10 teams.

The Hawkeyes picked up their first win of the regular season against No. 10 Wake Forest, winning 2-1.

Iowa trailed the game 1-0 for close to 30 minutes of game time, until freshman Sofie Stribos tied the score 1-1 with a goal just after the 52-minute mark. Senior Sophie Sunderland managed to conclude the game with another goal, this time on a fast break off a block against Wake Forest.

Last time the Hawkeyes played against Wake Forest was during the NCAA tournament last season, resulting to a loss of 3-2. The Hawkeyes also beat Wake Forest to begin last season.

After taking down Wake Forest, Iowa took defending champions North Carolina to the final minutes.

Sofie Stribos put Iowa on the board against North Carolina, scoring her second goal in as many games. Iowa held the lead until the 55th minute, until the Tar Heels scored on a corner shot. North Carolina took the lead and sealed the victory with another goal just minutes later.

The Hawkeyes will be return to Iowa City Sep. 6 for their matchup against Central Michigan, following with a match against Columbia on Sep. 8 in Iowa City.

Daily Iowan

Duke field hockey starts season with a bang, handling two ranked opponents

By Cam Polo


Olivia Sahaydak notched two goals Friday night. Photo by Mary Helen Wood

As the evening sun shone down in Durham and freshmen breathed a sigh of relief as the first week of classes came to a close, it was a similar new beginning for the Blue Devils, who finally opened their 2019 campaign with a busy weekend.

Duke played host to Penn State in their highly anticipated home opener Friday, capping off the school week under the late afternoon sun on Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium in Durham. The Blue Devils’ trying first weekend would continue with another top-25 test Sunday, this time on the road against William & Mary.

There were no cobwebs to shake off for No. 3 Duke as it took care of business in its first two contests, handling the ninth-ranked Nittany Lions 4-1 and 25th-ranked Tribe 4-0.

Despite the Blue Devils’ strong finish to the weekend—and an atmosphere in their home stadium ratcheted up by the many Penn State travelers who joined the Duke faithful—the first matchup started flat. Play was concentrated in the midfield on both sides, as attacks were quickly snuffed out, with each team figuring out the other. With 12 minutes to go in the quarter, the Blue Devils threatened the circle, but it was for naught, as the Nittany Lion backline quickly shut out any lead passes. But after that quiet first quarter, it was all Duke the rest of the weekend.

“You just have to recollect and go out there and go out there and get back at the game,” noted Duke head coach Pam Bustin following the Penn State game. “With three more quarters to go, we had some work to do.”

Work they did. The Blue Devils were out to prove a point headed into the second frame, showing their might by netting two and controlling the play for the entire quarter. Duke kept harassing the Penn State defense until Olivia Sahaydak found the back of the cage, passing a juicy rebound in without much resistance from the defense. The breakthrough set the tone for the rest of the half, with the Blue Devils spending more time in the offensive circle than they spent in their own defensive half.

Their aggression paid off again quickly, with true freshman Hannah Miller scoring on the break for her first of what will likely be many goals this season. Duke (2-0) took their 2-1 edge into halftime feeling much better about themselves than 15 minutes prior.

The Blue Devils pressed the attack throughout most of the game, cashing in on attempts from returning forward Sahaydak— who had two goals on the day— as well as Miller, whose goal in her first collegiate match turned out to be the game winner. Leah Crouse also added a show-stopping insurance goal that turned up the volume on the PA announcer, but left the rest of the press box speechless.

The fourth quarter of the tilt against the Nittany Lions (0-2) began at a one-goal margin in favor of the Blue Devils, a score that didn't reflect the true tale of Duke offensive dominance for the previous 30 minutes. Sahaydak and Leah Crouse seemed to agree, both netting insurance goals that frustrated the defense into multiple green card warnings—understandably so, as Crouse’s goal was a thing of beauty. She streaked down the wing, drawing defenders toward her as she cut across the circle. Just as it looked like she was out of room, she flicked her wrists and shot across her body, finding nothing but net in the top right corner as her teammates celebrated the goal that would see them through the contest.

The final horn sounded, mercifully, with Duke looking as if it were just hitting their stride. They looked to carry it going into their Sunday matinee against William & Mary (0-1).

“[This] gives us a great mindset going into it, feeling confident after one big win,” Sahaydak said Friday about needing to play another ranked opponent.

Their confidence shone in Williamsburg, Va., with the Blue Devils pouring 17 shots on the hapless Tribe defense in what finished as a convincing victory for the Duke side. The Blue Devils showcased their depth in their second game, as Crouse was the only player to score in both. Contributions from Lily Posternak and a brace from Haley Schleicher lifted the team to victory as the defense continued to stand tall. Duke only allowed five shots in the whole contest, and only two on goal.

Again, however, the opening frame showed signs of weakness. William & Mary did not register a shot, but neither did Duke. There is no doubt that the Blue Devils controlled the game throughout, but as the calendar moves to November, tough ACC competition will demand faster starts.

A deflection off of Lily Posternak into the back of the net only two minutes into the second quarter woke the Blue Devils up, who sent two more balls across the goal line in the frame, eight shots in the second quarter putting the Tribe on their heels and setting the tone for the rest of the contest.

“We’re just getting started,” Sahaydak said.

The team continued the attack, registering six more shots in the third frame and hitting paydirt off a penalty corner with just a second to go in the quarter. This proved to be too much for a battered William & Mary team, which only mustered one shot in the final fifteen minutes of play, the Blue Devils waltzing out of Williamsburg with a convincing second win.

The team came away from the weekend in good spirits, and for obvious reasons, but Bustin erred on the side of cautious optimism.

“There were some things that were absolutely beautiful from the team tonight, and there were some things that were just not."

Duke will take on No. 15 Northwestern and No. 2 Maryland next weekend, continuing their campaign in the Big 10/ACC Challenge before resuming their normal nonconference slate.

Duke Chronicle

Field hockey puts pressure on Connecticut but fails to pull off upset

By Holden Foreman


Junior attacker Corinne Zanolli scored twice in Stanford's 4-3 loss to the Northwestern Wildcats on Friday. She added another goal to her total on Sunday, but is yet to see a Cardinal win on the year. (Photo: Cody Glenn/isiphotos.com)

For a moment on Sunday, it looked as if No. 21 Stanford field hockey (0-2, 0-0 America East) would bounce back in a big way from its nail-biting, season-opening shootout loss to No. 15 Northwestern on Friday. The Cardinal took a commanding 2-0 lead over No. 4 Connecticut (2-0, 0-0 Big East) in the second quarter, only to watch the Huskies roar back with three unanswered goals for a 3-2 Stanford loss.

Connecticut’s go-ahead goal came courtesy of Antonia Tiedtke in the 54th minute, capping a second half in which the Cardinal were battered by the Huskies’ offense, with Connecticut outshooting Stanford 10-1. Jessica Dembrowski had tied the game in the 41st minute.

Despite the loss, Stanford can feel good about its first-half performance. Junior attacker Corinne Zanolli scored in the seventh minute, and freshman defender Rose Winter extended the Cardinal lead with a 16th-minute score off a penalty corner. Connecticut’s Svea Booker connected on a goal in the 17th minute to cut the Cardinal lead to 2-1.

Following up on a career-best 14 saves against Northwestern, senior goalkeeper Kelsey Bing made nine saves on Sunday.

Stanford has now lost both of its matches as host of the 2019 Stanford Invitational. In yet another home game, the Cardinal will look to tally the first win of the season against Quinnipiac on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 10 a.m. PST.

The Stanford Daily

With New Head Coach and Outlook, Field Hockey Pushes Forward Into 2019

By Faith Fisher


The Red looks ahead to a new era under a revamped coaching staff that aims to create a changed team atmosphere. Jason Ben Nathan

With the debut of a new coaching staff and seven talented freshmen, Cornell field hockey is hungry to put a losing 2018 season in the rearview and feast on victory.

The new head coach, Andy Smith, has laid out a clear mission for the program: “It is time for us to leave a mark — to write our own legacy.”

Last year, the team concluded the season with a 5-12 overall record, securing only one conference win. The team possesses a burning desire to deviate from last season’s imperfect overall performance and believes that the introduction of a new coach with a fresh philosophy can help them live up to their potential and fuel a season characterized by success.

“We had a rough season last year,” sophomore forward Claire Jones said. “We are ready to win this year, and I am looking forward to working with this team and the new coaching staff to show everyone what we can do.”

The squad introduced seven new players, all of whom are ready to utilize their unique skills to enhance the team’s play.

With new and old talent further developed under the tutelage of Smith, the Red’s prospects for triumph should be bright. The decorated new coach comes to Cornell at an apt time, ready to transform the season outcome and team philosophy with his vast coaching experience.

From 2002 to 2012, Smith served as Dartmouth’s associate head coach, where he assisted Amy Fowler in leading the Big Green to five top-3 Ivy League finishes. The next year, he headed to the University of California to serve as the assistant head coach. Finally, Smith made his debut as head coach at the University of the Pacific, where, in his six-year tenure, he donned a 61-57 career record and coached the team to four conference championship wins.

His expertise, however, is not limited to college field hockey. He further developed his decorated coaching portfolio, spending a decade coaching with USA Field Hockey in a variety of roles, including the drag-flick coach. Throughout his long and illustrious career, his coaching philosophy has remained the same, and he looks forward to bringing his vision to the Cornell team.

“Coaching is coaching for me,” Smith said. “Over the past few years, I have developed that philosophy and I am going to be true to who I am. The expectations don’t change — I want to be the best team we can be. It is all about the enjoyable experience and creating a fun, positive learning environment for the team.”

The team has responded favorably to his new philosophy and coaching style.

“I love his style of coaching,” Jones said. “He puts us in game scenarios. The way he runs his practices is helping us get into the shape we need to be in to win.”

The Red will confront fierce competition this season, taking on some of the nation’s best teams including Princeton, Harvard, Syracuse and Penn. The Red, however, is ready to meet its opponents’ high-caliber play and grow from the challenge.

“We have a tough schedule, but I have done that deliberately because we want to be the best — to be the best you have to play the best,” Smith said. “I am not concerned about who we are playing, but rather that we put our best foot forward and take every game as it comes.”

The team is confident that it can earn a winning season. In order to win, both the players and coaching staff are focusing on developing a positive team culture and embracing the process involved in realizing victory.

“We are going to have some interesting games this year and surprise people along the way,” Smith said. “But we are also going to have our learning experiences, which are all part of it.”

The Red will open up its season against Syracuse at home at Dodson Field. The opening showdown will take place at noon on September 7.

The Cornell Sun

Field hockey wins consecutive matches for first time since 2014

By Austin Chastain


Forward/midfielder Georgina Minta walks back to her position after the play is stopped on Sept. 7 at the CMU Field Hockey Complex. Ben Suddendorf

To find the last time the Central Michigan field hockey team won consecutive matches, fans would have to look back to Oct. 17 and 19 during the 2014 season.

The Chippewas defeated Missouri State, 3-2, on the front end of those two wins before defeating Saint Louis, 1-0.

Five years later, it's finally happened again.

Central Michigan (2-0) secured a 3-0 victory over Saint Louis at the CMU Field Hockey Complex on Sept. 2. The win comes three days after the season opener, a 4-1 defeat of Colgate at home.

"It's awesome," said second-year coach Catherine Ostoich. "This team has worked so hard. Just to see where we were at the beginning of last season to where we are this season and the progress we're making is incredible."

Freshman midfielder Alice O'Hagan scored her second goal of the season to open the scoring at the 2:26 mark of the first period.

Her teammate, junior forward Samantha Glapinski, padded the Chippewa lead when she made a back-door run behind the defense and toward the goal. She received a pass from senior midfielder Sarah Mesko just a few feet in front of the goal line and buried the tally on the backhand.

O'Hagan scored her second of the match and the third of the season on a feed from junior midfielder Taryn Damm and extended the edge to 3-0 in the third period.

All the way from West Clandon, Surrey, England, the freshman has made an immediate impact on her new team with three goals in two matches. Ostoich said she was impressed with the way O'Hagan has started off the season.

"She's having an awesome start," Ostoich said. "I'm proud of her, she's got an awesome shot and very threatening in the circle. She's come in and not shown any 'freshman fear' so she's been doing a great job and we'll hope it keeps going."

Central finished with four shots on goal and seven penalty corners. Meanwhile, the defense did not allow a single Billiken shot on two penalty corners.

Ostoich said that she was happy with the way her defense has started the campaign in her second season at the helm. She has been preaching an aggressive mindset on both ends since she arrived in Mount Pleasant.

"They're doing a great job," Ostoich said. "It was awesome to walk away from this game with 0 goals against – which was just incredible."

The Chippewas put their perfect record on the line at 4 p.m. Sept. 6 against Big Ten Conference foe Iowa in Iowa City.

CM Life

Peter Porritt (1923-2019)

Tony von Ondarza


Peter Porritt (1923-2019)   

With great sadness we received the news that on August 23 our dear Dr. Peter Porritt passed away in Winnipeg, Canada.

Peter was born in England in 1923. He graduated as a Medical Surgeon, married Mary and they had 3 children – Howard, Julia and Trevor. He emigrated to Canada in 1958.

As a young man he met Hockey playing at school. In Canada he met the FIH President - Rene Frank - who introduced him to the PAHF organization that was currently developing. In the first PAHF Congress during the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1967, he was elected as Secretary of the Federation.

During the Olympic Games in Mexico 1968 he perform as Medical Official.

Subsequently he was part of the FIH Council and then Chairman of the first medical committee.

Peter acted in the PAHF for 32 years as Secretary General and Treasurer from 1967 to 1994 and from that date as Treasurer until 1999.

I met Peter during the Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976 and from that moment an extraordinary friendship was established between us especially during the 20 years we were working together in the PAHF and the FIH. Peter was a person with a big heart and a British humor that sometimes was difficult for other people to understand. At this time, he was the soul of our Federation. Always willing to talk and find solutions. I don’t remember that Peter got mad at someone and was recognized as a friend of all PAHF and FIH members.

We were honored to receive him as a special guest on the 50th Anniversary of the PAHF in Santiago, Chile. Unfortunately, it was the last time we saw him. I contacted his wife Mary for the 60th anniversary of the PAHF and she informed me about Peter's health but she confirmed that his love for hockey and especially for PAHF never faded.

His son Trevor inherited his love for hockey by playing 10 years for the Canada National Team.

Our sincere condolences to Mary and her 3 children, we will always be very grateful for his life dedicated to Pan American Hockey.

Pan American Hockey Federation media release